If we use coloured pixels, then the amount of memory used increases. This is because more than 1-bit of memory has to be used to store a pixel. The table below shows the relationship between the number of bits used, the number of colours available, and the amount of memory used.

If we use coloured pixels, then the amount of memory used increases. This is because more than 1-bit of memory has to be used to store a pixel. The table below shows the relationship between the number of bits used, the number of colours available, and the amount of memory used.

The pictures below show the difference the number of colours makes to the clarity of the picture and the amount of memory used.

The greater the colour depth, the greater the memory used, but the clearer the picture will be.

Answer the following questions in your jotter.

1. A picture is drawn in a bitmapped package. It was drawn at a resolution of 72 dpi and colour depth of 256 (8-bit) colours.

a) What is meant by the terms resolution and colour depth when talking about computer graphics?

b) Would the amount of memory needed to store the picture, increase or decrease if:

i) the resolution was increased to 300 dpi?

ii) the colour depth was decreased to 2 (1-bit) colour?

c) What would happen to the picture clarity if:

i) the resolution was increased to 300 dpi?

ii) the colour depth was decreased to 2 (1-bit) colour?